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Tenant-Requested Hot Tubs: Landlord’s Decision-Making Guide

Young Women Relaxing in Hot Tub on Rental Property As a landlord, you may chance upon a conflict when your tenants ask to install a hot tub on your rental property. Even if it can create excellent tenant satisfaction and cost savings, hot tub installation has impending risks. If the hot tub malfunctions or causes damage to the property, you may be left with costly repairs and legal disputes. In addition, poor tenant maintenance can create hygiene concerns or safety hazards.

In that event, prior to making a decision, it’s imperative to consider all the possible risks and benefits of allowing your tenants to install a hot tub. Go over consulting with legal or insurance professionals to always make sure you are secured in case of any issues.

For property owners, deciding if tenants can have a hot tub depends on a whole lot of factors. There are compelling reasons for allowing or not allowing it. Here are a few considerations for each option:

Reasons to Allow Tenants to Have a Hot Tub:

  1. Attracting and Retaining Tenants: Imparting amenities, particularly, a sauna bath can make your property more appealing to potential tenants, sanctioning you to charge higher rent and retain tenants for lengthy periods.
  2. Increased Property Value: Installing a hot tub can boost the overall value of your property, which can be beneficial if you plan to sell in the future.
  3. Competitive Advantage: In a lot of rental markets, putting a hot tub can give your property a competitive edge over others, helping it to attract more attention and get rented more quickly.
  4. Tenant Satisfaction: Tenants who are happy with the luxury of a hot tub may be more at peace with their living arrangements, which inevitably leads to lower complaints and delightful relationships.

Reasons Not to Allow Tenants to Have a Hot Tub:

  1. Maintenance and Costs: Hot tubs call for regular maintenance like cleaning, water treatment, and likely repairs. You may need to take on these costs yourself or pass them on to your tenants, which could disincline some renters.
  2. Liability and Safety Concerns: Hot tubs can definitely pose safety risks. There is a risk of accidents, injuries, or even lawsuits if someone gets hurt. You may need to pay for additional insurance coverage to successfully cover yourself.
  3. Potential Property Damage: There’s a risk that the sauna bath could damage the property, for example, the deck or plumbing, which may call for costly repairs.
  4. Local Regulations: Various local municipalities and homeowners’ associations may have regulations or restrictions on allowing and using hot tubs. It’s advisable to check and conform to any such rules.
  5. Increased Utility Costs: Hot tubs consume electricity and water, which could cause higher utility bills. Determine whether you or the tenant will cover these costs.

Assume you are thinking about allowing your tenants to put a hot tub on your property. In this instance, there are several salient considerations to consider like ownership, the lease agreement terms, the removal and restoration process, cost responsibilities, and the approval process.

Having clear-cut guidelines and rules in the lease agreement is explicitly recommended if you make a decision to permit hot tub installation. This can incorporate significant issues such as maintenance and repair, responsibilities, and usage restrictions, which are really important to ensure the safety of your tenants and protect your property.

 

If you’re managing rental properties in Smith Mountain Lake and would like more useful insights on how to write your lease agreement, the property managers at RPM  Cairn can unquestionably help. Contact us online or call us at 434-215-3028 today.

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